Ezra 10

Shechaniah encourageth Ezra to reform the strange marriages.

Ezra 10:1 Now, when Ezra had prayed and when he had made confession, weeping and casting himself down, before the house of God, there gathered unto him out of Israel, an exceeding large convocationmen and women and children, for the people wept with a very bitter weeping. Ezra 10:2 Then responded Shecaniah son of Jehiel of the sons of Elam, and said unto Ezra, We, have been faithful with our God, and have married foreign women from among the peoples of the land,yet, now, there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. Ezra 10:3 Now, therefore, let us solemnize a covenant unto our Godto put away all the women and such as have been born of them, in the counsel of my lord, and them who tremble at the commandment of our God,and, according to the law, let it be done. Ezra 10:4 Arise, for, upon thee, resteth the thing, but, we, are with thee,be strong, and act. Ezra 10:5 Then arose Ezra and made the rulers of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, swear to do according to this wordand they sware.

Ezra mourning assembleth the people.

Ezra 10:6 Then arose Ezra from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib,and, when he came thither, bread, did he not eat, and, water, did he not drink, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of them of the Exile. Ezra 10:7 Then made they a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem, unto all the Sons of the Exile, to gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; Ezra 10:8 and, whosoever should not come within three days, according to the counsel of the rulers and the elders, all his goods should be devoted,and, himself, be separated from the convocation of them of the Exile.

The people, at the exhortation of Ezra, repent, and promise ammendment.

Ezra 10:9 Then were gathered together all the men of Judah and Benjamin unto Jerusalem, within three days, the same, was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month,and all the people remained in the broadway of the house of God, trembling concerning the thing, and because of the heavy rains. Ezra 10:10 Then arose Ezra the priest, and said unto them, Ye, have acted unfaithfully, and have married foreign women,to add unto the guilt of Israel. Ezra 10:11 Now, therefore, make confession unto Yahweh God of your fathers, and do his pleasure,and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women. Ezra 10:12 Then responded all the convocation and said, with a loud voice,Thus, according to thy word concerning us, must it be done. Ezra 10:13 Nevertheless, the people, are many, and, the season, is that of the heavy rains, and we are not able to stand outside,and, the business, is not one for a single day, nor yet for two, for we have abundantly transgressed, in this thing. Ezra 10:14 Let, we beseech thee, our rulers take up their station for all the convocation, and, all who, throughout our cities, have married foreign women, let them come in at times appointed, and, with them, the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the glow of the anger of our God be turned from us, concerning this matter.

The care to perform it.

Ezra 10:15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, made a stand against this,and, Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, helped them. Ezra 10:16 But the Sons of the Exile, did thus, and Ezra the priest separated to himself certain menancestral heads by their ancestral houses, and all of them by name,and they took their seats on the first day of the tenth month to search into the matter; Ezra 10:17 and they made an end with all the men who had married foreign women,by the first day of the first month.

The names of them which had married strange wives.

Ezra 10:18 Now there were found, of the sons of the priests, who had married foreign women,of the sons of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brethren, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah; Ezra 10:19 and they gave their hand, that they would put away their wives,and, being guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their guilt. Ezra 10:20 And, of the sons of Immer, Hanani, and Zebadiah. Ezra 10:21 And, of the sons of Harim, Maaseiah and Elijah and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. Ezra 10:22 And, of the sons of Passhur, Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasar. Ezra 10:23 And, of the Levites, Jozabad and Shimei, and Kelaiah, the same, is Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. Ezra 10:24 And, of the singers, Eliashib. And, of the doorkeepers, Shallum and Telem and Uri. Ezra 10:25 And, of Israel, of the sons of Parosh, Ramiah and Izziah and Malchijah and Mijamin and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah. Ezra 10:26 And, of the sons of Elam, Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah. Ezra 10:27 And, of the sons of Zattu, Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. Ezra 10:28 And, of the sons of Bebai, Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai. Ezra 10:29 And, of the sons of Bani, Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth. Ezra 10:30 And, of the sons of Pahath-moab, Adna and Chelal,Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh. Ezra 10:31 And, [of] the sons of Harim, Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon; Ezra 10:32 Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah. Ezra 10:33 Of the sons of Hashum, Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet,Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei. Ezra 10:34 Of the sons of Bani, Maadai, Amram, and Uel; Ezra 10:35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhu; Ezra 10:36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib; Ezra 10:37 Mettaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu; Ezra 10:38 and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei; Ezra 10:39 and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah; Ezra 10:40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai; Ezra 10:41 Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah; Ezra 10:42 Shallum, Amariah, Joseph. Ezra 10:43 Of the sons of Nebo, Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina,Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah. Ezra 10:44 All these, had taken foreign women,and had begotten of them children.